POL200Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Girolamo Savonarola, Tyrant
Example of Turks - Muslim Ottoman Empire
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Used example two time : in chapters 3 and 5
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Focus on going to live there --> best option, appealing
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Either destroy the republic, or go live there
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Holy new princes / principalities that last
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Dependent on no one, but others depend on you
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People taught to admire / revere as supreme
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Theme : greatest political examples
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Why is Moses in this list? He doesn't belong.
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Moses was a prophet, servant of god - incommensurable
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Others from propane history, Moses from religious
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Who is greater? - depends on one's beliefs, standards
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Why does Machiavelli leave him in the chapter?
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Wasn't a true servant of God - used religion as a way to
achieve the same ends as Romulus, etc.
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What all political leaders have done is equal to what Moses did
with the help of God
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Founders imposed order on original chaos, has nothing but fortune
and their own virtue
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Moses is same : Moses saw oppression as his chance..'
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Reading of Bible that excludes God
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Acquire with different, hold with east - impose new laws /
innovate in order to survive
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Moses political activity was a means to imposing God's law -->
Machiavelli says God's law was used for political activity
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From biblical : true succeed, false fail
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Doesn't matter to Machiavelli whether true or false, but ability
to enforce beliefs through arms
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Those who rely on God fail
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Therefore, Romulus / Cyrus are no more prophets than Moses
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If enough force is applied, people will not just obey, but
believe
No longer believe, be made to believe by force
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Introduction of prophecy : armed prophets succeed, unarmed
prophets failed - true prophets v. false
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Lists founders of four great nations : Moses, Cyrus, Theseus, Romulus
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Unarmed prophets will not succeed
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Dominican monk, came to Florence - was powerful
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If all fail, how did Jesus succeed? --> PROBLEM
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Could say Constantine (armed) was responsible
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Reminder of Jesus - greatest unarmed prophet
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Savonarola
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Chapter VI
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Lecture 2.3: Machiavelli, The Prince, chapters 6-8
January 19, 2017
2:00 PM
LECTURE Page 41
Document Summary
Either destroy the republic, or go live there. Used example two time : in chapters 3 and 5. Focus on going to live there --> best option, appealing. Dependent on no one, but others depend on you. People taught to admire / revere as supreme. Lists founders of four great nations : moses, cyrus, theseus, romulus. Moses was a prophet, servant of god - incommensurable. What all political leaders have done is equal to what moses did with the help of god. Wasn"t a true servant of god - used religion as a way to achieve the same ends as romulus, etc. Founders imposed order on original chaos, has nothing but fortune and their own virtue. Moses is same : moses saw oppression as his chance" Acquire with different, hold with east - impose new laws / innovate in order to survive. Moses political activity was a means to imposing god"s law -->
